Punch and die mechanism



Feb. 5, 146. E M N 2,394,346

PUNCH AND DIE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet I PatentedFeb. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUNCH AND DIE MECHANISM EdwardL. Wiedman, Tonawanda, N. Y.

Application September 28, 1944, Serial No. 556,229

13 Claims.

My invention relates to a punch and die device and more particularly toone designed for individually and speedily punching holes accuratelycentered and disposed center to center under-a predetermined plan orarrangement.

In the use of my invention I employ atemplate having pilot holes spacedor arranged center to center according to a predetermined plan and inconformity with which a sheet metal part or other sheet material is tobe perforated.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a punch and die deviceparticularly designed for use in connection with a template having apilot hole and wherewith a hole can be punched in a sheet metal orsimilar part against which the template is placed with assurance thatthe hole so punched will be coaxial with the pilot hole in the template.

Another object of my invention is to provide a punch and die devicewherewith a sheet metal or similar part can be quickly and accuratelypunched or perforated with assurance that the holes punched therein willbe accurately centered and spaced apart center to center, using atemplate in conjunction therewith having pilot holes therein, accordingto which the sheet metal part to be operated upon will be provided withholes smaller than the pilot holes in the template, but which will becentered in exact accordance with said pilot holes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a punch and die device ofthe kind mentioned, wherewith a sheet metal part having a templateclamped or otherwise temporarily held thereagainst and provided withpilot holes, will be punched with correspondingly centered holes ofsmaller diameter.

A further object of my invention is to provide a punch and die devicewherein the punch memoer is provided with an interchangeable pilotelement and an interchangeable punch, and wherein the die member isprovided with an interchange-v able die so that all remaining parts ofthe punch and die members can be used for punching varions-sized holes,while permitting the pilot element to be changed to conform in diameterto the diameter of the pilot holes in the template and the punch toconform to the diameter of the holes to be punched in the stock orwork-piece to be operated upon.

A further object of my invention is to provide a punch and die deviceequipped with a'pilot ele ment used in conjunction with a template havinpilot holes, and a power-actuated punch designed to successivelyperforate or. punch holes under quick progression in a sheet metal partor other -work-.piece according to the pilot holes in the template.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a punch and diedevice which can be applied to a conventional type of riveting machine,punch press, or any other machine or apparatus enabling the on member tobe fixedly attached thereto and having a power-actuated part to whichthe punch member may be attached and wherewith a sheet metal part orother work piece can be quickly passed between the punch and die membersin conjunction with a template. and holes punched successively throughthe work piece in exact accordance with pilot holes formed in thetemplate.-

With the above and other objects in view to appear hereinafter, myinvention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts to be hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out inthe subjoined claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of a converted riveting machine to which my improvedpunch and die device is applied, having replaced th usual co-actingparts of a riveting device used in the manner-of the application of thetwo co-acting parts of my d es vice.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved punch and die device, showingthe two members thereof detached from their supports, but arrangedrelatively as they are used for co-action.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the punch member of mydevice.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line 44, Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the die member of my device.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the die member of my device, shownin association with the punch head of the punch member, the latter beingshown in elevation and the section of the die member being taken on line1-1, Fig. 9.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the die member, viewed from the right orleft as shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken online 8-8, Fig. '7. Fig. 10 is ahorizontal section taken on line Iii-l0, Fig, 7. v

Fig, 11 is a section similar to Fig. '7, showing the punch. memberlowered with. the pilot el m nt thereof entered in a pilot opening in.the tem late and the work piece perforated by the punch, the

vided and under which arrangement the die member has preferably a fixedlocation and the punch member is reciprocally-arranged for movementtoward and from the die member.

In the exemplification of my invention, shown in the drawings, my punchand die mechanism is attached to a. riveting machine It, having a bed ortable 16 and a horn l1 overhanging said bed or table and spaced aconsiderable distance therefrom.

' In riveting machines of this generaltype, a ver-' ticallyreciprocating element I8 is located in the nose of thehorn IT and,projects downwardly therefrom and-to this reciprocating element, thepunch member I3 of my improved punch and die device is secured. Thispunch member is designed for coaction with the die member 23, which isrigidly secured in the bed or table 15 of the riveting machine. V

Machines of this kind are'equipped with controls, which includefoot'operated switches or other means whereby the reciprocating elementI8' is, caused to actuate. under manual control. Since therivetingmachine forms no partof this invention, it is believed unnecessary toillustrate and describe the control means by means of which the machineis operated and therefore two parts, whether they form parts of ariveting machine or parts of any other machine, device or apparatus,which are relatively movable toward and from each other, may serve assupports for the two members of my punch and die device.

@The die'device comprises a body portion 2!, preferably constructed oftwo comparatively thick plates 22, 23, separated by spacing pieces 24..While this body portion may vary in outline, I have shown it square inshape, with the spac ing-pieces 24 ranging along opposite marginalportions of the plates. spacing-pieces 24 are connected together in anyapproved manner, but I have shown screws 25 passed through the plate 23and spacingpieces 2 and threaded into the plate 22, as best shown inFig. 12; each screw having a cylindrical head countersunk into the plate23and providedwith a polygonal socket into which a suitable wrench maybe 'fitted for removing the screw or for threading it into place. Anyother means for securing the parts together may, of course, be employed.

Centrally in the upper plate 22 is a die 26 provided with'a' punch-hole21. This die is interchangeable with other dies having punch-holes ofvarying diameters or of difierent outline. The upper plate 22 of the diemember is provided with a screw-threaded openin into which the shank28'of thedie is threaded. The punch-hole 2?, which is drilled into thedie from the top, opens into a bore 29 of larger diameter than thepunchhole and the lower end of this bore open into thespace 30 betweenthe plates 22 and 23. This space is open at opposite sides of the diemember and thus permits slugs stamped from a workpiece to be blown outor otherwise removed at either of said open sides. A yieldable work sup-The plates 22, 23 and port 3| spans the top of the body portion 2! ofthe die member and it comprises a plate 32, preferably normallypositioned so that its undersurface is in a plane slightly above theupper sur face of the die 26. At opposite sides of this plate there areguides 33 and at the two remaining sides I provide cars 34 which mayalso serve as guides. The guides 33 and the ears 34 are stamped integralwith the plate 32, each guide being of substantially -U -formation,'thusforming two parallel depending arms 35 and a cross-member 35 connectingthe lower ends of said arms. The

guides 33 are in slidable contact with opposite sides of the bodyportion 2! and the arms thereof are provided with vertical slots 3!through which guide-screws 38 are passed and which are threaded into thespacing-pieces 24, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 10.

The guide ears 34 are also adapted to ride i sliding contact with thetwo remaining sides of the body portion 2| when the work-support 3!, orspring pad as itmay be termed, is depressed and thus absolute verticalmovement of the support or pad is assured. The plate 32 is providedcentrally with an opening 39 conforming to the outline of the die 26 andslightly large in diameter than said die, so that when the work-supportis depressed, the die may enter said opening.

In the lower plate 23 of the body portion, sockets or depressions 40are'formed and in the upper plate 22 openings 4| are provided,preferably of the same diameter as the sockets. Springs 42 serving tohold the support or pad 3i in itsupperrnost position have their lowerends entered in the sockets 40 and these springs extend upwardly throughthe openings 4! and bear at their upper ends against the underside ofthe plate 32 serving as the main portion of said support or pad. Theguide screws 38 and the vertical slots 31 through which they are passed,serve to limit the upward movement of the support or pad and when thelatter is in normal position, the lower ends of the slots 31 are incontact with said guide screws. It will thus be clear that the springs42 serve to hold the support or pad in its elevatedi'position, while thescrews 38 limit the upwardmovement thereof and the guide slots permit thsame to be depressed against th action of the springs 42.

The sockets 40 may be provided with openings 43 at their lower ends sothat foreign matter entering the space 30 and lodging in the socketswill find exit through said openings. 44 designates a support for thedie member and in the form shown, this support is designed to be appliedto the bed or table I 6 of the riveting machine. It is so constructedthat it may be substituted for one of the members of the riveting deviceused in such machines. For this purpose it is provided with ascrew-threaded shank 45 at its upper end and a suitable supporting face45 at the base of the shank to provide a comparatively large bearing forthe lower plate of the body portion 2|. At its lower end this supporthas a screw-threaded shank 47, which is threaded into a screw-threadedopening (not shown) in the bed or table I 6.

It is, of course, understood that this support may be varied in outlineand construction, depending on the particular machine or apparatuspart'to which it is to be secured, and in some instances may bedispensed with and the body portion 2| fastened directly onto a support.Therefore, the term support" may mean a part attached to the bodyportion, such of the general type illustrated by the part designated4'4, or it may be. a part of a machine, device or apparatus onwhich thedie member'zl is placed or attached.

The punch member comprises a cylinder or tubular element 48 open at itsupper end and closed at its lower end, the lower closed end having ascrew-threaded bore 49 axial therein into which is threaded the shank 50of a punch head 5!, which I more particularly designate a pilot element.This pilot element is provided with an axial opening therethrough and isreplaceable with other pilot elements in which the axial openingstherein differ in size, for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

Vertically-slidable in the cylinder or tubular element 48 is a plunger52, which has means at its upper end for attachment to a movable part ofa machine, device, or apparatus in a manner that the entire punch membermay be reciprocated and, as shown in the drawings, the upper end of thisplunger is provided with an outstanding flange 53, from the uppersurface of which a, screw-threaded shank 54 extends. This screw-threadedshank may be threaded into a reciprocating part, such as the part l8,shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and where the space between suchreciprocating part and the bed or table, such as part l5, Fig. 1, isgreater than the combined length of the punch and die members plus thelength of the stroke of said reciprocating part. an extension fitting 55is applied to the shank 54' and this comprises a cylindrical part 56having a screw-threaded shank 51 rising from its upper end and aninternally-threaded bore 58 opening to its lower end to receive theshank 54 of the plunger 52. The lower end of the cylindrical part 56 hasan outstanding flange 59, preferably conforming in outline to the flange53 on said plunger and these flanges 5.3 and 59 may be provided withflattened portions at diametrically opposite sides, as shown for oneside at 60, Fig 2. The punch head or pilot element 5| may also beprovided with flattened portions at opposite sides, as shown at 6|,Figs. 2, '7 and 11. These flat portions are for the application of awrench or other suitable tool so that the extension or fitting 55 may besecurely fastened to the plunger or both fastened in place, and so thatthe pilot element can be easily removed or applied to the cylinder 48.

It is, of course, understood that where the space between the horn l1and bed or table It of the machine is restricted from that shown in thedrawings, the extension or fitting 55 may be dispensed with.

Integral with the plunger 52 and extending axially downwardly therefromis a slender plunger pin 62, its lower end terminating well above theinner end of the pilot element 5!, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.Surrounding said pin and bearing at its upper end against the under sideof the plunger 52 and at its lower end against the closed lower end ofthe cylinder 48 is a spiral spring 63. Passed diametrically through theplunger 52 is a stop pin 64. This pin passes through vertical slots 65in the cylinder 48 at diametrically opposite points and normally thisstop pin bears against the upper ends of said slots under the influenceof the spring 63. This stop pin also serves to prevent separation of thecylinder 48 from the. plunger 52.

The lower end of the plunger pin 62'is bored out to receive the upperend of a punch 6.6, which extends downwardly into the pilot element 5!.

The punch may have its lower end even with the lower end of the pilotelement or it may termi nate slightly above said lower end when theparts are in normal position.

I preferably solder this punch into the plunger pin, silver solder beingused for that purpose so that when the punch becomes broken or a punchof a different size is to be used, it may be easily removed by heatingthe solder used to fasten it to said plunger pin. A pin having a punchof smaller or larger diameter than the bore in the plunger pinnecessarily calls for an enlargement or reduction, respectively, of theupper end of the punch and, of course, the pilot element will have to bereplaced with another having a bore therethrough conforming to theenlarged or reduced punch.

In the drawings, the work piece is designated by the numeral 61, thetemplate by the numeral 68 and the pilot holes in the template by thenumeral 69, as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

The work piece and the template mounted thereon and clamped or otherwiseheld in a firm manner on the work piece is placed upon the spring padand advanced toward the operating center of the punch and die device.The reciprocating element ill, or any other part to which the punchmember may be secured, is then lowered and simultaneously therewith thespring pad 32 is depressed sufliciently to cause the work piece to restupon the die 26. At the same time the pilot hole selected for centeringthe hole to be punched is positioned to cause the pilot element to enterit and when the punch is lowered to its full extent it will have punchedthe hole in the work-piece co-axial with the pilot hole in the template.

As clearly shown in Fig. 11, the template is provided with any number ofpilot holes and these determine the exact centers which the holes to bepunched in the work piece are to have while advancing the work piece andthe temp-late over the spring pad. It is, of course, understood that theterminal of the pilot element is the exact shape as the pilot hole inthe template. Immediately the pilot element is entered in the pilothole, the lower face of said pilot element is brought in contact withthat region of area of the work pieceremaining uncovered by thetemplate. The work piece at such times bears against the upper face ofthe die and the upper face of the spring pad. When applying my improvedpunch and die device to a machine of the type shown in the drawings, thereciprocating element 18 is caused to be actuated by an electric control(not shown) or otherwise and this in turn forces the plunger 52 and itspunch downwardly, causing the punch end of the latter to pass throughthe work piece in its act of entering the punch hole in the die, duringwhich action the ends of the stop pin 63 move downward in the slots 65and the spring 62 is compressed.

The slugs punched from the work piece are delivered into the space 30 inthe die member.

During the reverse movement of the reciprocating element l8, thepunch iswithdrawn from the die and work piece and the latter advanced with thetemplate thereon to bring another pilot hole 89 in the template intoregistration with the pilot element, the latter entering the pilot holeand the operation being repeated in the manner described. This iscontinued for all of the pilot holes in the template so that for eachpilot hole in the tem platev a hole is punched co-axially therewith inthe work piece in quick progressive order.

tance between the ,punch member-and the upper,

face of the spring pad forming part of the die member may be varied,'butquicker progressive punching action is assured when all lost motion ofthe moving, parts is dispensed with and the spacing of the male andfemale members of the punch and die device will be made according to thethickness of the work piece and that of the template associatedtherewith.

It is, of course, to be understood that various changes can be made intheconstruction and assembly of parts without departing from myinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof and that manychanges in this respect can be made without departing from the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus claim is: 7 l

1. In combination with two spaced-apart supportsrelatively movabletoward andaway from each other, a punch and die device comprising adescribed my invention what 1' punch member secured to oneof saidsupport and I a die member carried by the other, said punch memberhaving a cylinder, a plunger entered in said cylinder and havingnon-yielding means for attachment thereof to one of said supports, aspring within said cylinder exerting force against said plunger andcylinder in opposite directions, respectively, a punch axially securedto said plunger within said cylinder and a pilot element applied to thelower end of said cylinder co-axial with said punch and which is adaptedto enter a pilot holein a template associated with the work piece to bepunched, said punch extending into said pilot element'and adapted to beprojected therefrom so as to punch the work piece and said die memberhaving a die into which said punch is to be entered when the work pieceis'punched thereby.

2. In combination with two spaced-apart supports relatively movabletoward and away from each other, a punch and die device comprising apunch member secured to one of said supports and a die member secured tothe other, said punch member having a cylinder, a plunger entered insaid cylinder and reciprocable therein, said plunger having means forattachment thereof to one of said supports, a spring within saidcylinder serving to retain said plunger at the end of its movement inone direction, means to prevent accidental detachment of said plungerfrom said cylinder, a punch axially and removably-fastened to saidplunger and a pilot element removably secured to the end of saidcylinder distant from said plunger and into which said punch is entered,and a die member having yielding supp rt and a die upon which the workpiece to be punched receives support after depressing said yieldingsupport under action of said cylinder and on which work piece a templatehaving a pilot hole therein is to be placed, said pilot element beingadapted to enter said pilot hole and said punch to punch a hole in thework piece co-axial with and smaller than said pilot hole.

3. In combination with two spaced-apart supports relatively movabletoward and away from each other, a punch and die device comprising apunch member securedto one of said support and a die member secured tothe other, said punch member comprising a cylinder open at one end andclosed at the other and having longitudinallydisposed slots therein atdiametrically-opposite points, a plunger entered in the open end of saidcylinder and having a stop-pin passed therethrough with opposite endsthereof entered in said slots, a spiral spring hearing at one endagainst said plunger and at its other end against the wall at the closedend of said cylinder, a pilot element threaded axially into the closedend of said cylinder and interchangeable with other pilot elements and apunch interchangeable with other punchearemovably and axially fastenedtosaid plunger within said cylinder and extending axially into saidpilot element, said plunger being adapted to be moved inwardly towardthe closed end of said cylinder against the action of said spiral springsoas to cause saidpunch to be axially projected from said pilot element,said die member having a die into which said punch is to be entered inthe act of punchingan opening through a work piece having a templatethereon provided with a pilot opening into which said pilot element isto be entered.

. 4. In a punch and die device, a cylinder open at one end and having a'pilot element axially applied to its other end and adapted to be enteredin a pilot hole in a template held against a work piece to be punched, aplunger within said cylinder adapted to be reciprocated therein andhaving a punch arranged axially with respect to said pilot element andsaid plunger, means to limit the movement of said plunger within saidcylinder in one direction, and a spring interposed between said plungerand the end of the-cylinder havin said pilot element applied thereto,said spring serving to maintain said plunger at the end of its movementin said direction and to yield under movement of said plunger in itsopposite direction, said punch being adapted to punch the work pieceaxially with respect to said pilot element.

5. In a punch and die device, a cylinder open at one end and closed atits other end and having a screw-threaded opening axially in its'closedend, a pilot element having a threaded portion entered in said threadedopening and a free terminal serving as a pilot adapted to enter a pilothole in a template clamped or otherwise applied to a work piece to bepunched, said pilot element having an axial bore therethrough and beingreplaceable with other pilot elements having axial bores of differentdiameters and pilot terminals of diiierent sizes or shapes, depending onthe pilot hole in the template being used, a plunger reciprocal in saidcylinder, and'a punch axially applied to said plunger and entered in theaxial bore of said pilot element, said punch being interchangeable withother punche conforming to the axial bore in the pilot element beingused.

6. A punch member adapted for punching a work piece according to a pilothole in a template applied to the work piece, comprising a cylinder openat its upper end and closed at its lower end and having apilot elementremovably secured in 'said closed lower end, said pilot element having apilot terminal at its lower end to fit the pilot hole in said templateand an axial punch-receiving bore therethrough, said pilot element beinginterchangeable with other pilot elements having pilot terminals andpunch-receiving bores of different sizes or formation, a plungerenteredinto the upper open end of said cylinder, a spiral spring between theinner end of said plunger and the closed end of said cylinder, means tolimit the upward movement of said plunger within said cylinder, and apunch applied axially to the inner end of said plunger adapted formovement in the axial bore of said pilot element and replaceable withother punches so as to conform to the shapes or sizes of the axial boresof other pilot elements being used interchangeably.

'7. In combination with two spaced apart supports relatively movabletoward and away from each other, a punch and die device comprising apunch member secured to one of said supports and having a punch, a diemember for co-action with said punch member, said die member comprisinga body portion, a die carried by said body portion having a punch holeaxially alined with said punch, and a spring-sustained depressible padlying over said body portion and normally held in spaced relationthereto and in a plane above said die, said pad being adapted to havethe work piece to be punched placed thereon and having an openingtherein into which the die extends when said pad is depressed, and meansto limit the upward movement of said pad.

8. In combination with two spaced-apart sup-' ports relatively movabletoward and away from each other, a punch and die device comprising apunch member secured to one of said supports and having a punch, a diemember for co-action with said punch member, said die member comprisinga body portion, a die carried by said body portion having a punch holeaxially alined with said punch, a pad normally spaced from the upperface of said body portion guided for vertical movement on the latter, aspring carried by said body Portion and exerting upward pressure againstsaid pad,

and means to limit the upward movement of said pad against the force ofsaid spring, said pad being adapted to have the work piece to be punchedplaced thereon.

9. In combination with two spaced-apart supports relatively movabletoward and away from each other, a punch and die device comprising apunch member secured to one of said supports and a die member forco-action with said punch member, said die member comprising a bodyportion having a die extending upwardly from said body portion andprovided with a punch hole, a plate lying over said.body portion inspaced relation thereto and provided with guide-and-stop means to guidesaid plate in its movements toward and from said body portion and tolimit the upward movement thereof, springs carried by said body portionto normally force said plate upwardly and maintain the same in spacedrelation to the upper surface of said body portion and in a plane abovesaid die, said plate having an opening therein co-axial with said dieand into which the latter extends when said plate is lowered, said platebeing adapted to have the work piece and a superposed template providedwith a pilot hole placed thereon, said punch member having a pilotterminal adapted to enter the pilot hole in said template whendepressing said plate with the work piece and template thereon, and apunch movable in said punch member and adapted to be projected axiallythrough said pilot terminal when entered in said pilot hole and to puncha hole in th work piece axially with respect to said pilot hole.

10. In a punch and die device, a die member comprising two superposedplates, spacing members connecting said plate together to form a spacetherebetween, upwardly facing sockets in the lower of said plates,openings co-axial with said sockets in the upper plate, a die removablysecured within said upper plate and projecting upwardly therefrom, aspring pad arranged above said upper plate and having depending portionsin sliding contact with sides of said body portion, springs passedthrough the openings in said upper plate and having their lower endsentered in said sockets and their upper ends bearing against the undersurface of said pad to urge said pad upwardly, and means for limitingthe upward movement of said pad under force of said springs,

' said pad having an opening therein co-axial with said die and intowhich the upper projecting portion of said die is adapted to extend whenpressing said pad downwardly with the work piece to be operated uponthereon.

11. In a punch and die device for punching a hole in a work-piececo-axial with a pilot hole in an associated template held to saidwork-piece, a member having a pilot element adapted to be selectivelyentered in the pilot hole in said template and a perforating toolmovable axially through said pilot element, a second member providedwith a hole to receive said perforating tool, and a spring-pressedsupport for the Work piece and its associated template yieldable withsaid two lastmentioned objects to permit said pilot element to beentered in said pilot hole and said work-piece to rest on said secondmember and to enable said perforating tool to penetrate the work-pieceand form a hole therein co-axial with and smaller than said pilot hole.

12. In a punch and die device for punching a hole in a work piececo-axial with a pilot hole in a template lying on said work piece, apunch member having a pilot element adapted to be entered in the pilothole in said template and a punch movable axially through said pilotelement. a die member having a die provided with a punch hole to receivesaid punch and a yielding support for the work piece and its associatedtemplate yieldable with said work piece and template to permit said workpiece to bear against said die and to enable said punch to punch a holein said work piece oo-axial with and smaller than said pilot hole.

13. An assembly adapted to form holes in sheetmetal, comprising anon-yielding body, an element carried by said non-yielding body andhaving a tool-receiving opening, a yielding support also carried by saidnon-yielding body and having an opening to receive said element whensaid support is depressed, said support being adapted to support beingadapted to support the work-piece to be operated upon, a templateadapted to lie on the work-piece and having a pilot hole larger than thehole to be formed in the work-piece, and a cooperating member having apilot element adapted to enter the pilot hole in said template and atool movable through and co-axial with said pilot element adapted to bepassed through the work-piece after said pilot element has been enteredin the pilot hole of said template so as to form a hole in saidwork-piece co-axial with the pilot hole in said template.

EDWARD L. .WIEDMAN.

